J sheets-sheet



I Feb. 20, 1923.

' F. D. MAYER ET AL.

MACHWNE FOR PLACING AUTOMOBILE TIRES N RIMS.

FILED AUG-9.1918- 1 SHEFT$-SHEET 1.

1 70220 B 1 [ll {25a .w mm

:11. Hi. I. mi? m h Ina/22mm ayer ' F. D. MAYER ET AL.

MACHINE FOR PLACING AUTOMOBILE TIRES ON RIMS.

I SHEETS SHEET 2.'

FILED AUG59| 1918- 7 SHEETSSHEET 3- F. D. MAYER ET AL.

mm AUG-9.1918.

Feb. 20, 1923.

MACHINE FOR PLACING AUTOMOBILE TIRES 0N.R|MS.

Feb. 20, 1923. 1,445,784 F. D. MAYER ET AL.

MACHINE FOR PLACING AUTOMOBILE TIRES 0N RIMS.

FILED Aue.9. 1915-. 1 SHEETS-SHEET 4- RUeTJBFfi and Bane ,D. My r Feb,20, 1923. 1,445,784.

4 F. D. MAYERET AL. MACHINE FOR PLACING AUTOMOBILE TIRES ON RIMS.

map Ave-9.1916.

7 S SSHEET 5- l mfiam g and Frame fl 21 1 r vw g3 my F. DPMAYEH ET AL.MACHINE FOR PLACING AUTOMOBILE TIRES 0N"RIMS,

Feb. 20,- 1923.

1 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

FILED AUG- 9.1916

440/50 L. Vance F AQ v F. N

F, D. MAYER ET AL.

MACHINE FOR PLACING AUTOMOBILE TIRES ON RIMS.

Feb, 20,1923.

7 SHEETS SHEET 7.

4 FlLED AUG.9, 191s.

Band ,3. 1 /0 01" .Avfia ,5. @2200. A9

r r r Patented Feta 2Q,

that crates.

FRANC D. IVIAYER AIQ'D B. VANCE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINGIS, ASSIGNORS TO THEESSENKAY PRODUCTS COIlIlfaNE, OF CHICAGG, ILLINOIS, A CORPQRATTEON OFILLI- NOIS.

M'ACHINE FOR'PLACING- AUTGEEGE'BILE TIRES ON RIMS.

Application filed August 9,

To (15E who m may concern:

Be it known that we, FnANo D, MAYER and ALPHA B. VANCE, citizens oi theUnited States, residing at Chicagmcounty of Cook, and State of Illinois,haye invented new and useful ll proven nts in Machines for PlacingAutomobile Tires. on Rims, of which the following is specification.

This invention relatesto machines for pxacing automobile tires on rims.

' 1 object of the invention isto provide J .achine tor firmly seatingautomobile. tires on rims of automobile wheels,and. particularly tireswhich are to retain, after their attachment to the rim, the samecross-section which they have prior to said attachment.

The ordinary pneumatic tire is placed on the rim while being deflated,and the crosssection necessary for holding the rim and tire in firmconnection witheach other is attained after the the has been seated,through inflation ot the tire. The detects inherent to the pneumatictire, its low resistance against pointed obstacles, the possibility ofundesired reduction'ot air pressure within the tire, have led to thedevelopment of a resilient substitute tire in which'the place of the aircushion is taken by. azcushion o1- suitahle resilient material insertedinto-the tire before the same isffirmly seated on the An object otfthe.present invention is to provide a machine in which tires filled with anyone of these resilient cushions may be secured to rings of differentcross-section, and it is also an object of the invention to provide amachine in which tires of different cross-sections and tires ofdifferent diameters may be placedupontheir suitably selected rims. t

For this purpose it is an objectof the inventionto provide a centering.device adaptable to. rims and tires oi different diameters combined withseating mechanisms which force the tire into en a einent wit-lithe rim;

This introduction or thetire into the rim may be accomplished byrelativemovement of the seating mechanisms and tires or rims, includingamechanism for rotating the tire while the seating mechanisms are heldsubstantially stationar Other objects of the'finvention are directed tothe provision of mechanisms for gradually increasing the operativepressure of the seating mechanisms upon the tires, for lock- Fig. l. isa side elevation of the complete niachine;.

2 is a top plan view of the same;

' Fig. shows, on a larger scale, partly in section and partly in;elevation, thebase of the machine withthe drive of the centering deviceand the lock for the centering device;

F t is, in section and partly in elevation, the centering device and therim carrier combined with the transmission for the rim carrier;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a clincher flap attachment; p f i 6 ispartly side elevation and partly section of the stylus and stylussupport of the clincher flap attachment;

7 illustrates, partly in section and partly, in elevation, theattachment for a so-called straight side rim and tire;

Fig. 8 is a topplan view of a tire and a straight siderim, the rim beingpartly shown in section;

Fig. 9 is partly side elcvationand partly section of an attachment forsecuring a filled tire to a clincherrim;

10 is a front elevation of the same attachment;

Fig. 11 15 a top plan view of the follow roller and the bracketadjustably; supporting the same; I

Fig. 12 is'a sectional view through the tire advance roller anditsadjustable support;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation, partly section, of an attachment rso-called quick detachahleri1ns;

14% is a .iront elevation of the same attachment; I

Figs. 15%? inclusive illustrate, in dia grammatic sections and on alarger sca e, thev various SllCCQSSli Q steps for introducing andlocking; a filled tire into a quick detachable rim, and p 4 Figs. .8-3inclusive show the various steps, in similarsectional diagrams, forinserting a filled tire into a clincher rim.

The n'iachine frame 1 comprises abase having near its bottom an enlargedbase plate 2,'which may be anchored to the floor of the room, and nearthe top a boxlike structure 3, serving as a support for the principalbearings, and also serving as a support for a number of brackets whichcarry the various attachments for the machine.

The structure oi the Frame has an annular inner wall 4 and a top wall 5,above which rests a spider 6. comprising a plurality of arms 7, and arim 8,'the lower edge of which is provided with a bevel gearing 9. Abovethe hub of the spider 6 a hub 10 of a bevel gear wheel is disposed,which wheel has upwardly curved arms 11 and a rim 12 with bevel gearteeth. The hub of this bevel gear is keyed to a vertical shaft 13, whichprojects into the box structure 3. and journaled within a hollow shaftl-i, which servesas a support for the bevel gear spider 6. A bushing 15,made of bronze or other suitable material, surrounds the hollow shaft14, and serves as bearing tor the same. The hollow shaft 14 is providednear its bottom end with a thrust. flange 16, which engages a downwardlyprojecting portion 17 oi the inner wall 4.

The rim of the spider 6 carries in opposi tion to the bevel teeth 9 aplurality of bearings 18', equallyspaced from each other and fastened tothe rim by'means of the screws 19. These bearings support. spindles 20,consisting of a straight orouter portion 21 and an inner threadedportion 22. Each threaded portion 22 is engaged by a nut 23 in the shapeof a bevel pinion, which is in engagement with the bevel gear teeth ofthe rim 12.

The bearings 18 have near their inner ends an upwardly directed lug 2i(Fig. 9), in which a locking pin 25 is slidably secured. This lockingpin enters a longitudinal slot 26 of the pertaining spindle 20, and nor-"mally holds each spindle against rotation.

A set-screw 27. entering the lug 24; and adapted to impinge upon the pin25, prevents accidental removal of the pin 25 from adjusted position.

Each spindle is provided on its outer end with a rim-carrying, arcuateshoe 28, mounted removably on a reduced portion or neck 29 of thespindle. The shoes 28 have sub stantially channel shaped cross-section,and may be provided in the bottom of the chain nel with a leather lining(not shown) or some similar cushioning material to prevent injury to thetelly F of the rim. The shoes are readily exchangeable and removable.trom the spindles 20 upon withdrawal oi? locking pins 30, which aretapering and which project through the body of the shoe 28 and throughthe reduced portion 29 (Fig. 9).

i The bevel pinions 23 are held against outward axial displacement onthe screws 22, owing to their engagement with the individual bearings18, and they are in common held against axial displacement towards thecenter line of the machine by meansoi' a pressure ring 31, which has aplurality of upwardly projecting lugs 32, suitably spaced and providedwith bores 33, through which thethreadod portions 22 of the spindlespass. The uniform radial displacrnient of allot the rim supports 28.resulting in the centration of the rim in the machine, is effected byrotation oi? the bevel gear 'rin'i 12. The actuating mechanism tor thecentering device is mounted in the base, and comprises a bear ingbracket 34, which supports a horizontal shaft carrying on its outer enda hand wheel 36 and on the inner end a bevel pinion 37. When the bevelpinion 37 is in engage ment with a bevel gear 38, keyed to the foot endof the shaft 13, and when the hand wheel 30 is rotated, the shaft 13 andthe bevel gear rim 12 will be rotated, and the bevel pinion nuts 23 willconvert their rotary movement into a uniform axial movementof thespindles 20.

The shaft 35, which is slidable and rotatable in the bracket 34:, may belocked in operative or inoperative position by means of a pin 39.reinovably inserted in an opening of the bracket 3-1; and adapted toenter one of the two annular grooves 40, 4-1. on the shaft 35. In theposition illustrated in. Fig.

3, the spindle 35, therefore. is shown in operative engagement with thebevel gear 38 of the shaft 13.

A device for locking the cei'itcring shaft 13 against rotation includesa rod 42, slidably mounted within a sleeve extension 43 in the base ofthe machine, and having at. 1.

its forward end a bevel tooth 44, adapted. to engage and look the gearteeth on the wheel 38. Upon withdrawal of the pin 45. which passesthrough a bore 46 in the rod 42, this rod may be moved inwardly anti mayhe cured in its locking e gagement. with the bevel gear 38 throughreinsertion oi the lockin; .piu ldin the bore ll-7 of the rod.

Brackets 48 for supporting the various attachments may be removablyfastened to the frame 3, preferably at such height that the uppersurface of the bracket; in a plane with the top walls 5. The horizontalsupporting plates 4:9 of: the brackets are preferably undercut on theside edges to prevent. tilting of the attacln'neuts placed thereon. Someof these brackets n'iay be provided with bearings 52 for a. spindle :31.wherein the spindle is held against axial dis placement.

The attachments to be placed on the brackets 48 vary in accordance withthe rim and tire structure. They comprise brackets 54:, having a bottomsurface with an undercut groove so as to be slidably seated on theundercut top plate 49 of the supporting brackets 4:8. They may be lockedin adjusted position thereon by means oi t screws 55; they may also beprovided wi 11 tapped lugs 56, through which the spindle 51 extends.Upon rotation oi the spindle 51 through hand wheel 57, the brackets 5%may be radially adjusted with res ect to the axis of the machine.

The front face ot each bracket H- has vertical guideways 58 alsopreferably undercut, for supporting a tool carrying slide 59. This slideis equipped with a tapped lug-60, through which spindle 6i er: ends; thespindle is rotatably supported'in a hearing 62, and is held againstaxial movement therein. Through rotation of a hand wheel 63, the slide59 may be raised or lowered with respect to the rim and tire placed onthe machine. After suitable adjustment the slide may be locked byset-screws 55, impinging against the guideways 58 of the attachmentbracket.

Figs. 9 to '12 illustrate in detail attachments for the insertion oft're T, provided with clincher heads, into a clincher rim. The toolcarrying slide 59 is provided with'two inclined projecting arms thelower arms 64 terminating in a bearing 65 for a crimping wheel 66, whichis mounted on a suitable shaft 67, and the upper arm 68 terminating inan approximately vertical nut 69 for a screw 70. The arm 68 also has alateral flange 71 (Fig. 10), which ends in an upper bearing 72 for theshaft 67 oi the crimping wheel 66. The plane of the crimping wheel 66'is askew with respect to the axis of the tire.

The screw can be adjusted vertically in the nut 69, and may be held inadjusted position by a lock nut 73. The foot portion of the screw '70 isformed by a cylin- ,drical head 7 which is flared at 75. and

which carries loosely mounted thereon a tire advance roller 76, shown assubstantially conical roller with a central'recess 77, in which anothernut 78 is mounted on the screw 7 0 to urge the lower face of the roller76 into engagement with the fiared portion of the screw.

The tool carrying slide 59 may also have a lateral extension 7 9, inwhich a follower roller 80 is rotatably mounted (Fig. 11).

The roller supporting bracket 82 may be adjusted in a horizontal planeon the guideway 'i by a spindle 83, which is rotatable in a rigidbearing 8d of the extension 7 9. Vertical adjustment of the toolcarrying slide 59 therefore may bring the roller 80 into the plane ofthe tread portion proper of the tire, and the roller 80 may then beadvanced radially into more or less firm engagement with said treadportion.

A support for the rim in approximate opposition to the point in whichthe wheel 66 engages the tire, is provided by means of a supportingroller mounted on the shaft 86, which secured in bearings eta bracket87. also slidably mounted on the guideways t9 of the supporting bracket4:8. The supporting roller 85 preferably has a groove in itscircumference corresponding to the curvature of the bead flange on theclincher rim C. Different rollers 85 may be used for different sizedrims.

In the attachment of tires to rlincher rims and other rims the: pinchingof the tire heads on the rim is prevented by a tire flap P. Theintroduction of this flap prior to the insertion of the filled tire inthe rim and the operation of torcing' the tire its/l5 into the rim isfacilitated by a tire fiap at tachment bracket which may be brought intooperation upon the tire prior to operation of the described crimping-5wheel attachment. This tire iiap attachment (F 5 and 6 includes thebracket 5st and a t ol carryingslide 59, on which. through arms 88. asleeve 89 is mounted so to project at an angle to the center line of themachine. This sleeve 69 contains a plurality of axle and thrust ballbearings 90. 91 for a. stylus 92. having a shank 93. wiiich supportedwithin the sleeve. It is held in position by a washer 9i and by nutsengaging a threaded portion of the shank.

An attachment for insertinga different tire S, of suitablecross-section, into a straight side rim B. comprises a bracket 54, whichsupports'two tool carryino slides 59 (Fig. 7), each of which has armsterminating in bearings 95 for a crimping wheel. 96. A spindle 97,having oppositely directed threads in diiiercnt portions. engages thenuts 60 on the slides. so that upon rotation of the spindle 97 theslidrs 59 will, be moved simultaneously and uniformly in oppositedirection.

For tires T, mounted on quick detachable rims Q) the attachment bracket5-i- (Figs. 13 and 14;) supports a slide 100 on its vertical face 101.The slide 100 is ad justed vertically by a screw spindle 102, which isrotatubly, but not slidably. secured in a hip; 103, the spindleentering; a suitable tapped aperture of the slide 100. The slide isprovided with three ang ularly spaced bosses 102 which serve asbearingsior short shafts 105, on which the crimpingwheels 166 areloosely mounted. v

The drive of the machine shows, by way of example, a bracket 110. havingon its upper suriace a bearing; sleeve 11]., in which a shaft 112 isrotatably supported. The init 112 carries a bevel gear ner end of theshalt 113, which is in mesh with the bevel gear 9 of the spider 6.

Two loose pulleys 11 lare mounted on the shaft 112. @ne of said pulleysmay be driven by a straight belt whi e the other one may the machine.

ossed belt t hubs 01f t loose p l l i faces 1163. h 115. shdahly thehnitt he c l as an r lar grocre ill. whit by a V cated lerer 11.9.pivoted it war has Norm ally the t Lion toys will? iiitji tij g 1J1 Hmother ot t i it spider (3, or fix! try the rim supp The operation of emachine tion with various rizn shapes lization of the drill t a scribed,about the :loilowing:

The clincher rini C together wi" i may he placed upon the suppt 85,which hare been previously n equal (iii-stance from the axis or? the noll hreugh iotatien of the hai'id wheel he centering device is actuated,and the F: riin supports 28 are displaced radially outwardly i'intil thev eng o the ieliy l respect to 1F; tron laid in c m" about the rinn asshown in nos: ion the i l L ;hc silient mat i iiuarqueiit to the I. r

i 1 mhiction ot the filler a flap or flaps r are placed on the inwardlydirected surface of the material E.

The introduction-oit the flap is faci 1 by use of the stylus and thisoperon he stylus is pressed into the space he ecu the rim (1 and thelead "I T .19) ,wl'ierehy,upon eta; of the H linhled structure in thispositio us will force the tire dour i bead rests on the lower in C. Uponwithdrawal Of the l r tires will then occupy the position shown in Fig.Qt). The crii'n 'iing wheel 6'3. suppor by the tire advance roller ranthen hrou into operation, the wheel entering the greet e near the upperhead (Fig. 21 and the roller (not shown) actingtial portion of the tireu he treat.

machine is rotated untih under the ac the crimping wheel (36 and of theadvance roller 7 6, the upper head of the tire is forced throughdownward athustment oi? the slide 59 into the position shown in Fig. 22.The

l in which 'z'cr roller 80 may then he forced into s-"ith the treadsurface oi the s T, filler 1i, and iilap P are 7 This ope ation loi'indistriluition and equal- 're pressure over the wiole is graduallyadvanced t with the tire.

5 crinipinr x wheels 96, are on all oil cts and the crimping WllGfilSare genaent with the tire s.

i of the spider 6, the pinbe rotated about thei axes, the

J dug locked, however, against r0- it the center of the machine. This"2e radial advance of the rim supsioes 28, so that the split rim willvanded until the ends have come to in which position they can besuitable device not shown. If, e centering drive is released and the eagain rotated, while the crimping 95 are forced against the tire, thelatwill be gradually pressed into the intethe rim aration the o 'acketsmachine car devices, as illusl3 and I at a suitable discent r line,After having n Ill into the tirev the rim paced this ring L. Thisstructure, incl til? T, iller E, ring L, rim Q and is then placed inthemachine l e centering;- device the 26 are brought into the "telly F.A floating:

l placed on the top bead ot and under rotation of the ere 106 aregradually forced N are about in the position illustrated in Fig. 16. A.double-wedge shaped lookingring V is then inserted, when the machine isstopped, by introducing one end lltS, as illustrated in Fig.

mrmiwart ly inl o ei igagrenient with the floatinn' ring, until the beadand floating ring s grasped by the holding flange it of the rim (Fig.16).

The machine 1s not only adapted tor the attachment of tires to runs, butit may also be used for the detachment oi tne rims from tires wheneverthis should become necessary,

and for the removal of tires from their rims the operations may becarried out in a sequence reversed to that described above.

We claim 1. In a machine for au 'ilying a tire to a rim, the combinationof a plurality of spindles having threaded portions, agear to which saidspindles are secured, nuts engaging the threaded portions of saidspindles, and a means common to all of said nuts for rotatingthe same,said nut rotating means being operable independently of said gear androtatable together with said gear. I

2. In a machine for applying a tire to a rim, the combination of aplurality of rim supporting spindles having threaded portions, nutsengaging the threaded spindle portions, a gear to which said spindlesare secured, means for rotating said nuts. a membercommon to all or saidnuts for rotating the same, and means for holding said member againstrotation, said nuts being operable when said member is locked againstrotation.

3. In a machine for applying a tire to a rim, the combination of aplurality of spindleshaving threaded portions, pinions loosely mountedon said threaded portions,

' a rotary carrier common to said'spindles,

and a gear in permanent engagement with said pinions and co-axlal withsaid common carrier adapted to rotate said pinions and to displace saidspindles in axial direction with respect to said pin-ions.

4. In a machine for applying a tire to a rim, the combination or" aplurality of rim supporting spindles having threaded portions, pinionson said threaded portions, a common circular'carrier for said spindles,a common means coaxial with said carrier for turning said pinions, and agear for actuating said carrier.

5. In a machinefor applying a tire to a rim held on rim supportingspindles, the combination of a gear train including a driving gear and aspindle carrying gear with a second gear train including a spindleextending gear common to all said spindles. and a plurality of gearseach individual to a certain spindle.

6. In a machine-for applying a tire to a rim held on rim supportingspindles, the combination of a gear train including a driving gear and aspindle carrying gear, with a'second gear train including a spindleactuating gear common to all spindles. a plurality of gears eachindividually associated with one of the spindles, and inde: pendentdriving means for said second gear train.

7. In a machine for applying a tire to a rim held on rim supportingspindles, the combination of a carrier common to all spindles,' meansoperative by rotation of said carrier for radially adjusting saidspindles, and positively operable means independent of the tire forrotating the carrier with the tire thereon.

8. In a machine for applying a circular tire to a rim, the combinationof a plurality of rim supporting spindles having threaded portions,pinions on said threaded por tions, a common circular carrier for saidspindles. a common means coaxial with said carrier for turning saidspindles, and a gear for actuating the carrier.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in the presence of twowitnesses.

FRANC D. MAYER.

ALPHA B. VANCE.

Witnesses:

DANIEL A. BRENNAN WM. A. MCMINFORD.

